Oru Kayak  Bay ST Folding Kayak - 12' 3"

After searching for a few weeks last year, we acquired two Bay ST kayaks. We've tried inflatables in the past, but found them too difficult to navigate. The Bay ST kayaks are perfect for city dwellers like us, who don't want to risk a fallen roof rack but still have a passion for water sports. They fit perfectly in our SUV's trunk (both kayaks) and we've been taking them on camping trips and day trips. The portability and easy storage make Oru an ideal choice for those who want to hit the water at any time of day, without being limited by kayak rental facility operating hours. In terms of quality, these kayaks are sturdier than expected, even in choppy waters and strong winds. However, you should exercise caution when placing them in and out of the water to avoid scratches on the bottom.

I bought the boat and the faring was ripped right out of the box. The seat also wouldn’t stay snapped in. Overtime the faring would become completely unusable because it just keeps ripping. I wrote to Oro customer service and they did respond promptly. However their answer was they knew this was an issue that and they had not resolved it yet. They told me I could use float bags. On a brand-new thousand dollar boat the seat is in usable in the front fairing isn’t usable. I wanted to make other people aware of this so that they didn’t waste their money on a boat with designe issues. If you’re dying to try it buy it from REI because they have a good return policy.

We took our Oru Kayaks out of the box on the shore of String Lake, Grand Teton NP, with directions in hand and gathering onlookers anticipating the final form of our clever unfolding. The first attempt was frustrating. I might have said a swear word or two. However, the second kayak emerged more easily and lacked the initial assembly drama. Those interested in our maiden voyage were delighted to see how light the boats were and how easily we launched them. After sliding into the water, my first stroke shot the boat forward and I knew I was in for a great day of paddling. My wife and I simultaneously commented about how easily the boats paddled and how responsive they were. As a side note, thank you very much for supplying a decent paddle in your package. It paddled as well as my trusty Werner paddle and broke down better. The first test came at the north end of String Lake where we had to portage the boats a quarter mile to Leigh Lake. At 26 pounds apiece, we easily carried both Oru boats together. On a previous trip to this same destination, we carried 65 pound plastic kayaks individually over the portage, which means we walked a mile with more weight, instead of a quarter mile with lighter Oru boats. Paddling Leigh Lake was a dream. Even in light chop from an afternoon gust, the Oru Kayaks paddled great! Our heavier, plastic ocean kayaks totally out perform the Oru kayaks on our home waters of Monterey Bay, but they don’t come close to the convenience, compact storage, and light weight we need for packing in our trailer and heading out to lakes in the northwest. The best part: I didn’t buy have to buy a kayak rack for the cab of my truck, which my wife isn’t tall enough to reach anyway, for two folding kayaks that fit snugly in the truck bed. Thank you for a pair of really fun kayaks. More adventures to follow…

Best best best! Very steady on water, great glide. Pack it up - stick it in the backpack walk to your car - and put it in the trunk! No straps, no hassle. Definitely put it together at home a couple of times before you take it out. After a couple of tries - easy peasy!

Love this kayak! Took a while to put it together the first time — I’m 5’5 and have small hands, so folding and holding the plastic in place was not super simple, but it gets easier once you know how all the pieces fit together and learn to leverage your knees. Now it only takes 5-10mins and I absolutely love it! The Bay St model is very transportable (I have even flown with it), and great for both placid lakes and choppier waters. If you’re looking to just kick back and lounge or bring your pet, recommend getting one of the other Oru models given their larger cockpit size. Be prepared for lots of compliments and questions from folks passing by :)

I ordered two Oru Bay STs from REI. One I picked up in store and due to avialability, the second I had shipped to me directly from REI, in the original Oru box packaging. The shipped kayak arrived today- the original Oru shipping box was in decent condition suggesting that the carrier was not the issue. Out of the box, the kayak that shipped had wear on the bottom edge folds, where the black plastic footing pieces (connected to the straps) that serve to protect it on the bottom edges possibly wore against the plastic. I noticed immediately a loose hanging piece of plastic, and upon closer inspection, there is a clear hole in the edge where the black bottom piece possibly rubbed against the bottom kayak fold and created the issue. That's assuming it's not a quality control issue during manufacturing, which is of course a possibility. Inherently, a product meant to be shipped to customers should be sturdy enough to withstand shipment, as most all other products are subject to shipping. It's obviously concerning given the high cost of two Bay STs, that upon purchasing Oru kayaks, the durability and quality of the Bay STs are already in question. In theory, those black plastic footing pieces would wear on the folds during normal recreational use and transport. Is Oru really the kayak brand anyone would want to invest so much in?

I bought this kayak a month ago because it was half the weight of my AE Epedition Elite. It’s so much easier if the water is a hike from the truck. I love the ease of set up and break down. Much quicker and easier than pumping. Also easier to clean. The tricky part is getting my long legs inside without tipping it over. It’s definitely less stable than an inflatable. Once I’m seated, all is good. There’s room for my legs inside, but not my size 13 water shoes. I have to take them off. The pros outweigh the cons in the end.

We bought 2 Oru Bay STs about 5 months ago & we absolutely love them. We had to give up our 16' fiberglass touring kayaks a few years ago when we moved into an urban townhouse with no storage & finally bought the Orus...why did we wait so long?? These kayas are great! Leanring the assembly was easy (there's a great video on Youtube) & now takes us under 10 minutes (disassembly less than 5). They track very well & are easy to paddle. Of course they're not as fast as our old kayaks but that would be an unrealistic expectation. they're really lightweight and transit/storage is breeze. We're so glad we finally bought these kayaks!

After 10 years remains a great buy. The Bay is fast on the water with added benefit of being light, fits into back of the car and my townhouse. Takes me less time to assemble and disassemble than to put a regular kyak onto roof racks. Also took it to Pakistan for a 3 year work stint. It does now take on about half gallon of water after 2-4 hours on the water. Most people are not out this long. As the hull is made of durable double- sided plastic material/ linear cells, it can’t crack or spring a major leak so not a concern. Still has many more trips to make before I buy another. I remain fully satisfied with the kyak.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I learned to kayak using traditional sea kayaks. They are great but they are long and heavy. This means that I don’t have a place to store one, nor do I have a vehicle that is suited for transporting a sea kayak. Rental kayaks, at least the ones available at my local forest preserves, handle like bath tubs. Thus, I was intrigued by the Oru Bay ST and decided that I would purchase one since it would resolve both the storage and transportation issues for me. I’ve been out twice now and love it! So far I’ve only been on lakes but will soon be exploring some of the calmer rivers in my area. I love the flexibility that I have to get out on the water.